Bangor is a small coastal city in [[North Wales]], and although it does not have an abundance of attractions, it is a picturesque place offering views over the Menai Strait (especially attractive at sun-set), and also serves as a convenient base for visiting the nearby [[Snowdonia National Park]]. The city is also a popular place to spend the night for travellers leaving for [[Ireland]] on the [[Holyhead]] to [[Dublin]] ferry.

Bangor is a small coastal city in [[North Wales]], and although it does not have an abundance of attractions, it is a picturesque place offering views over the Menai Strait (especially attractive at sun-set), and also serves as a convenient base for visiting the nearby [[Snowdonia National Park]]. The city is also a popular place to spend the night for travellers leaving for [[Ireland]] on the [[Holyhead]] to [[Dublin]] ferry.

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With a population of only around 14,000, Bangor is one of the UK's smallest cities. However, as a bustling university town, the city is not lacking in cafes and restaurants and enjoys a vibrant night life.

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With a population of only around 14,000, Bangor is one of the UK's smallest cities. Bangor is however a University town, so there may be a few more facilities than expected for such a small place. Plus nearby are the towns of Menai Bridge and Llanfairpwll, which could be classed as Bangors metropolitan region.

Around half of the people in the city can speak Welsh, but if you took away all of the students in the University, this figure would be much higher.

Around half of the people in the city can speak Welsh, but if you took away all of the students in the University, this figure would be much higher.

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Bangor is just off the intersection of A5 and A55 between [[Conwy]] and [[Holyhead]].

Bangor is just off the intersection of A5 and A55 between [[Conwy]] and [[Holyhead]].

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Bangor is directly on the A5, which runs directly from London to Holyhead making it easily accessible from the capital city. This 250 mile journey takes roughly ''four and half hours''.

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Bangor is directly on the A5, which runs directly from London to Holyhead making it easily accessible from the capital city of England. This 250 mile journey takes roughly ''four and half hours''.

From the north west of England, Bangor can easily be reached on the coastal road A55, which provides a nice safe journey on a road which serves all of the North coast of Wales. The journey takes as little as an hour and is about 65 miles (105 km).

From the north west of England, Bangor can easily be reached on the coastal road A55, which provides a nice safe journey on a road which serves all of the North coast of Wales. The journey takes as little as an hour and is about 65 miles (105 km).

Bangor is also served by the A487 from the west coast of Wales, from [[Haverfordwest]] via [[Aberystwyth]].

Bangor is also served by the A487 from the west coast of Wales, from [[Haverfordwest]] via [[Aberystwyth]].

* <see name="Bangor City FC" address="The Stadium, Farrar Road" phone="+44 1248 725745" email="info@bangorcityfc.com" fax="+44 1248 724182" hours="" price="Adults £6, Concessions £4, Kids £2" url="http://www.bangorcityfc.com">Bangor City Football Club's home ground, located near the City center. A good place to go on match days to soak the atmosphere and to meet real Bangor locals.</see>

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* <see name="Bangor City FC" address="The Book People Stadium, Nantporth" phone="+44 1248 725745" email="info@bangorcityfc.com" fax="+44 1248 724182" hours="" price="Adults £6, Concessions £4, Kids £2" url="http://www.bangorcityfc.com">Bangor City Football Club's home ground, located near the City center. A good place to go on match days to soak the atmosphere and to meet real Bangor locals.</see>

* <do name="Theatr Gwynedd" alt="" address="Deiniol Road" directions="" phone="+44 1248 351708" url="http://www.theatrgwynedd.co.uk" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">A venue for both English and Welsh entertainment. It also shows International plays as well as pop and classical concerts, opera, dance, pantomime and travelling national shows. Theatr Gwynedd is also a Dolby Digital Cinema and shows a wide variety of films. Theatr Gwynedd is closing for reconstruction in October 2008.</do>

* <do name="University Concert Series" address="Powis Hall and Prichard-Jones Hall, Main Arts Building, College Road" url="http://www.bangor.ac.uk/community/musicindex">Regular concerts of classical music during term time, usually on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Perfomers include professional orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists, and there are also concerts of electroacoustic music and regular performances by the University's own choirs and orchestras.</do>

* <do name="University Concert Series" address="Powis Hall and Prichard-Jones Hall, Main Arts Building, College Road" url="http://www.bangor.ac.uk/community/musicindex">Regular concerts of classical music during term time, usually on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Perfomers include professional orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists, and there are also concerts of electroacoustic music and regular performances by the University's own choirs and orchestras.</do>

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Some of the local eateries include:

Some of the local eateries include:

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* <eat name="Blue Sky Café" alt="" address="Behind Abbey National, High Street" directions="" phone="+44 1248 355444" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Fantastic cafe, totally unexpected at the top of a small alley way between the Abbey and Williams the butcher. Originally a methodist chapel, this 200-year old building provides a stunning architectural background for this lovely cafe. Very good food, friendly, relaxed atmosphere, and during the winter months a cosy logfire. </eat>

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* <eat name="Blue Sky Cafe" address="Behind Abbey National, High Street" phone="+44 1248 361652" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">Vegetarian restaurant, but not strictly for vegetarians. Pleasant cafe with surfwear shop attached. Can be easily missed on the high street, as it is down a small uninviting alleyway, but don't be put off.</eat>

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* <eat name="The Black Bull Inn (JD Wetherspoon)" address="107 High Street" phone="+44 1248 387900" email="" fax="" hours="Sun–Thu 9AM–midnight; Fri/Sat 9AM–1AM" price="" url="http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubfinder/details.php?OutletNumber=90">Typical food menu and drink service. Music is now played (sometimes loudly), but family-friendly atmosphere. Food varies in quality and is not a home-made meal, typical from a high-street brand chain. Can provide the venue, but not the atmosphere. If you're looking for a good insight into Bangor culture, this will more remind you of a small bar in any city or town.</eat>

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* <eat name="The Black Bull Inn (JD Wetherspoon)" address="107 High Street" phone="+44 1248 387900" email="" fax="" hours="Sun–Thu 9am–midnight; Fri/Sat 9am–1am" price="" url="http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubfinder/details.php?OutletNumber=90">Typical food menu and drink service. Music is now played (sometimes loudly), but family-friendly atmosphere. Food varies in quality and is not a home-made meal, typical from a high-street brand chain. Can provide the venue, but not the atmosphere. If you're looking for a good insight into Bangor culture, this will more remind you of a small bar in any city or town.</eat>

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* <eat name="Papillon" alt="" address="347a High Street" directions="" phone="+44 1248 360248" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">A very smart and elegant little restaurant that is a diamond in the rough. The food is fantastic and great value for money. A student favorite for its cheap lunches to remind them what nutrition actually is!</eat>

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* <eat name="Papillon" address="347a High Street" phone="+44 1248 360248" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">A very smart and elegant little restaurant that is a diamond in the rough. The food is fantastic and great value for money. A student favorite for its cheap lunches to remind them what nutrition actually is!</eat>

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* <eat name="Orient Expresso" address="364, High St" directions="at the front of Kellett travel" phone="+44 7811980237" email="" fax="" hours="M-Sa 9AM-5PM" price="" url="">A small coffee shop, serves a variety of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and jacket potatoes, as well as homemade pies, burgers and weekly specials that change every week. Includes a wide range of homemade cakes and cupcakes.</eat>

There are more, and they're small private places with varied food and menus. It's worth asking a local!

There are more, and they're small private places with varied food and menus. It's worth asking a local!

Bangor's waterholes vary from the [[#Traditional|traditional]] to the [[#Student|student]] popular venues, to somewhere for a [[#The rest|quiet drink]]. Students who have money to spend can also find a [[#Night out|great night out]].

Bangor's waterholes vary from the [[#Traditional|traditional]] to the [[#Student|student]] popular venues, to somewhere for a [[#The rest|quiet drink]]. Students who have money to spend can also find a [[#Night out|great night out]].

Ideally located just yards from the train station, the restaurant serves excellent quality home-made cantonese cooking from 2pm - 9:30pm everyday (EXCEPT MONDAYS). The best in cantonese food!</drink>

===Traditional===

===Traditional===

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===Night out===

===Night out===

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* <drink name="Amser (Time Nightclub)" address="University of Wales Bangor, Deiniol" phone="+44 1248 388026" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">The place to be for young clubbers on a night out. Time is a very safe place to go for a dance and a drink, and is supported by the University. Welcome to everyone, but just because it's a student spot, don't expect the drinks to be cheap.</drink>

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* <drink name="Amser (Time Nightclub)" address="University of Wales Bangor, Deiniol" phone="+44 1248 388026" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">The place to be for young clubbers on a night out. Time is a very safe place to go for a dance and a drink, and is supported by the University. Just because it's a student spot, don't expect the drinks to be cheap. The most notable nights are Happy Mondays (effectively a cheesey music night), fridays (pop) and the amazing new alternative indie night called <drink name="LOST PROPERTY" url="http://www.lostpropertybangor.com" hours="10pm - 2am"></drink> which transforms the venue completely every other tuesday. The regular DJs for this night play an amazing set of indie and electro every time. Time is also the venue of choice for any major bands/acts who come to Bangor.

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* <drink name="Academi" address="Student's Union, Deiniol Road" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" </u>Students Only</u> - formerly ''Main Bar'', with nights including fancy dress, comedy night, and the LGBT-focused "Fruit Salad" - but everyone is welcome! Varying types of music on each night from the funk, reggae, soul, afrobeat and hip-hop at "Racubah", to the traditional pop happy Saturday night out. But, by far, their best night out is Wednesday night's "Trash", where the main room plays the best in indie rock and emo, while the cocktail bar focuses more on metal. </drink>

* <drink name="Octagon" alt="" address="Dean Street" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.octagonclub.co.uk/website" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">The Octagon, and its attached club ''Bliss'' are a lively night out occasionally supported by some of the top DJs in the UK. On the weekends many customers wearing their Ben Sherman shirts and polished shoes can be found here enjoying lots of drink and lots of dancing. The student night here is a great laugh and appears on every Wednesday during term time. Be safe here on weekends though, this is outside student territory and locals frequent this club often. However, this provides a good mix of people and can still be a great night out. More recently there are some good rock/metal nights here in the week and also the occasional band night.</drink>

* <drink name="Octagon" alt="" address="Dean Street" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.octagonclub.co.uk/website" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">The Octagon, and its attached club ''Bliss'' are a lively night out occasionally supported by some of the top DJs in the UK. On the weekends many customers wearing their Ben Sherman shirts and polished shoes can be found here enjoying lots of drink and lots of dancing. The student night here is a great laugh and appears on every Wednesday during term time. Be safe here on weekends though, this is outside student territory and locals frequent this club often. However, this provides a good mix of people and can still be a great night out. More recently there are some good rock/metal nights here in the week and also the occasional band night.</drink>

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==Sleep==

==Sleep==

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*<sleep name="Hendre Hall" alt="" address="Tal-y-Bont" directions="About 3 miles from Bangor just off the A55 Tal-y-Bont intersection" phone="" url="http://www.hendrehall.com/HendreHall_english.html" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">Hendre is Victorian Grade II listed stone farm building that has been converted to provide a venue of real character for weddings and music events. A favourite venue for local bands, DJs and promoters of world music. It does not provide accommodation.</sleep>

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*<sleep name="Hendre Hall" alt="" address="Tal-y-Bont" directions="About 3 miles from Bangor just off the A55 Tal-y-Bont intersection" phone="" url="http://www.hendrehall.com/HendreHall_english.html" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">Hendre is Victorian Grade II listed stone farm building that has been converted to provide a venue of real character for weddings and music events. A favourite venue for local bands, DJs and promoters of world music. </sleep>

Contents

Understand

Bangor is a small coastal city in North Wales, and although it does not have an abundance of attractions, it is a picturesque place offering views over the Menai Strait (especially attractive at sun-set), and also serves as a convenient base for visiting the nearby Snowdonia National Park. The city is also a popular place to spend the night for travellers leaving for Ireland on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry.

With a population of only around 14,000, Bangor is one of the UK's smallest cities. Bangor is however a University town, so there may be a few more facilities than expected for such a small place. Plus nearby are the towns of Menai Bridge and Llanfairpwll, which could be classed as Bangors metropolitan region.

Around half of the people in the city can speak Welsh, but if you took away all of the students in the University, this figure would be much higher.

Get in

By train

Bangor lies on the North Wales Coastal Line, and can be reached from either the direction of Holyhead, for those travelling from Dublin, or from Chester, for those traveling from the mainland. Bangor is on the Holyhead → Chester track, and can be reached from either with trains running roughly every hour.
Bangor can also be reached the following ways:

London Euston → Crewe → Bangor - roughly every hour, taking about four hours. £96.50 for a standard open single, £62.90 for a saver single (available most days). Booking in advance may get you a ticket for £51.

London Euston → Bangor direct - three times a day. Takes just over 3 hours, but same price as above.

By car

Bangor is just off the intersection of A5 and A55 between Conwy and Holyhead.
Bangor is directly on the A5, which runs directly from London to Holyhead making it easily accessible from the capital city of England. This 250 mile journey takes roughly four and half hours.
From the north west of England, Bangor can easily be reached on the coastal road A55, which provides a nice safe journey on a road which serves all of the North coast of Wales. The journey takes as little as an hour and is about 65 miles (105 km).
Bangor is also served by the A487 from the west coast of Wales, from Haverfordwest via Aberystwyth.

By bus

Students visiting or moving to Bangor with a lot of luggage may find it safest to travel by coach.

Get around

See

Penrhyn Castle, ☎+44 1248 35308 (penrhyncastle@nationaltrust.org.uk), [2]. A neo-Norman Victorian Castle that contains a collection of "Norman" style furniture and old masters' paintings. Has a National Trust shop, a doll museum, two galleries and an industrial railway museum.£9 (£4 for children).

Bangor Cathedral, ☎+44 1248 354999. A 6th Century cathedral with attractive architecture. The focal point of the city.

Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery, Ffordd Gwynedd, ☎+44 1248 353368, [3]. Tells the story of the people of Bangor and Gwynedd over previous centuries. Free entry.

Bangor City FC, The Book People Stadium, Nantporth, ☎+44 1248 725745 (info@bangorcityfc.com, fax: +44 1248 724182), [4]. Bangor City Football Club's home ground, located near the City center. A good place to go on match days to soak the atmosphere and to meet real Bangor locals.Adults £6, Concessions £4, Kids £2.

Bangor Tourist Information Center, Town Hall, Ffordd Deiniol, ☎+44 1248 352786 (bangor.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk). Information for the entire north of Wales, tips and directions for the best days out.

Do

University Concert Series, Powis Hall and Prichard-Jones Hall, Main Arts Building, College Road, [5]. Regular concerts of classical music during term time, usually on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Perfomers include professional orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists, and there are also concerts of electroacoustic music and regular performances by the University's own choirs and orchestras.

Learn

Eat

Welsh lamb and beef feature prominently as does freshly caught fish such as salmon, brown trout, white crab and lobster. Vegetarian preferences are also well catered for with organic fruit and vegetable producers in the area.
Some of the local eateries include:

Blue Sky Cafe, Behind Abbey National, High Street, ☎+44 1248 361652. Vegetarian restaurant, but not strictly for vegetarians. Pleasant cafe with surfwear shop attached. Can be easily missed on the high street, as it is down a small uninviting alleyway, but don't be put off.

The Black Bull Inn (JD Wetherspoon), 107 High Street, ☎+44 1248 387900, [7]. Sun–Thu 9AM–midnight; Fri/Sat 9AM–1AM. Typical food menu and drink service. Music is now played (sometimes loudly), but family-friendly atmosphere. Food varies in quality and is not a home-made meal, typical from a high-street brand chain. Can provide the venue, but not the atmosphere. If you're looking for a good insight into Bangor culture, this will more remind you of a small bar in any city or town.

Papillon, 347a High Street, ☎+44 1248 360248. A very smart and elegant little restaurant that is a diamond in the rough. The food is fantastic and great value for money. A student favorite for its cheap lunches to remind them what nutrition actually is!

Orient Expresso, 364, High St (at the front of Kellett travel), ☎+44 7811980237. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. A small coffee shop, serves a variety of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and jacket potatoes, as well as homemade pies, burgers and weekly specials that change every week. Includes a wide range of homemade cakes and cupcakes.

There are more, and they're small private places with varied food and menus. It's worth asking a local!

Traditional

The Harp Inn, 80 High Street (Towards the station on the high street), ☎+44 1248 361817. A friendly, cosy traditional pub. Great menu, all cooked from scratch, no microwaving here! Reasonable drink prices, and offers on house vodka, whiskey. Round of Jaegerbombs only £10 (for 6 shots and red bull) The best in Bangor!!

Student

The Old Glan, Glanrafon, [11]. Typically known as "Yellow Pub" because of it's unusual yellow colored facade, this pub provides a great atmosphere for students to lie about, eat, drink, play pool, watch silly programs on TV, sing on the karaoke, or just take advantage of cheap beer. Great music and great food. Wifi hotspot.

The Globe, Albert Street, Upper Bangor. Traditional Welsh pub where the staff are friendly, but sometimes the atmosphere might not be very welcoming towards the English (I - being VERY English DO NOT agree with this comment - they are VERY friendly towards the English!). Current and former Welsh-speaking student favorite, as well as being very popular with Bangor locals.

The rest

Patrick's Bar, 57-59 Holyhead Road, ☎+44 1248 372530, [12]. Affectionately known as "Paddy's Bar", this small Irish-themed bar is popular with all and makes such a stamp on visitors that they make sure to return whenever nearby.

Night out

Amser (Time Nightclub), University of Wales Bangor, Deiniol, ☎+44 1248 388026. The place to be for young clubbers on a night out. Time is a very safe place to go for a dance and a drink, and is supported by the University. Just because it's a student spot, don't expect the drinks to be cheap. The most notable nights are Happy Mondays (effectively a cheesey music night), fridays (pop) and the amazing new alternative indie night called <drink name="LOST PROPERTY" url="http://www.lostpropertybangor.com" hours="10pm - 2am"> which transforms the venue completely every other tuesday. The regular DJs for this night play an amazing set of indie and electro every time. Time is also the venue of choice for any major bands/acts who come to Bangor.

Academi, Student's Union, Deiniol Road. Students Only</u> - formerly Main Bar, with nights including fancy dress, comedy night, and the amazing 'attitude free night' "Fruit Salad" - run by Unity Bangor (the LGBT society). Varying types of music on each night from the funk, reggae, soul, afrobeat and hip-hop at "Racubah", to the traditional pop happy Saturday night out.

Octagon, Dean Street, [13]. The Octagon, and its attached club Bliss are a lively night out occasionally supported by some of the top DJs in the UK. On the weekends many customers wearing their Ben Sherman shirts and polished shoes can be found here enjoying lots of drink and lots of dancing. The student night here is a great laugh and appears on every Wednesday during term time. Be safe here on weekends though, this is outside student territory and locals frequent this club often. However, this provides a good mix of people and can still be a great night out. More recently there are some good rock/metal nights here in the week and also the occasional band night.

Sleep

Hendre Hall, Tal-y-Bont (About 3 miles from Bangor just off the A55 Tal-y-Bont intersection), [14]. Hendre is Victorian Grade II listed stone farm building that has been converted to provide a venue of real character for weddings and music events. A favourite venue for local bands, DJs and promoters of world music. It does not provide accommodation.

Caernarfon to see the majestic 13th Century castle and the cute tiny town.

You can buy ferry tickets to Dublin (departing from Holyhead) at any of the travel agents on the town's one main road (the High Street).

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!